Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens: Planning Permission Granted

NEWS: We are pleased to announce that Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens has now been granted full planning permission by Horsham District Council. At last.

The venue attracted some 50,000 visitors a year until it closed to the public in 2010 as a result of financial difficulties. New owner Penny Streeter OBE and her team undertook a major programme of investment over 18 months in renovating the Italianate mansion and estate, which features the Grade I Listed gardens:

“We can now begin completion of the final phase of the essential building works that will enable us to open the estate to the public. This is great news, but the scale of the work required is such that we will not be able to confirm the future opening date until December 1st, we anticipate. We will announce a confirmed date to open as soon as we can.

“We are now focusing our efforts on completing the next and final phase, which includes building a car park and ticket office, as well as developing a new public entrance from the road. There are a range of factors that affect the timing of completion, not least being the weather conditions, given that the work is outdoors and we are coming into winter soon.

“The issue of getting planning permission has been directly responsible for the delay in opening Leonardslee. We can now move ahead with new confidence. It has all been incredibly frustrating for us - and for supporters of this major project to restore and reopen Leonardslee to the public.”